Thread by @AlsoACarpenter

A taste of how Christian Abolitionists dealt with enslavers' appeals to the Apostle Paul (from, "An ESSAY on SLAVERY, Proving from SCRIPTURE its Inconsistency with HUMANITY & RELIGION," by Granville Sharp):

"If I have vindicated the law of Moses, much easier can I vindicate 1/

2/ "...the benevolent apostle Paul, from Mr. Thompson's insinuations, with respect to slavery; for he did not entreat Philemon to take back his servant Onesimus, in his former capacity, as Mr. Thompson has asserted, in order to render bondage consistent with the principles of

3/ "...revealed religion,—but St. Paul said expresly,

'not now as a servant, but, above a servant, a brother beloved, &c.'

So that Mr. Thompson has notoriously wrested St. Paul's words. IN the other texts where St. Paul recommends submission to Servants, for conscience-sake,

4/ "...he at the same time enjoins the master to entertain such a measure of brotherly love towards his servants, as must be entirely subversive of the African trade, and West-Indian slavery. And though St. Paul, recommends christian patience under servitude, yet, at the same

5/ "...time, he plainly insinuates, that it is inconsistent with christianity, and the dignity of Christ's kingdom, that a christian brother should be a Slave.

'Can'st thou be made free? (says he to the christian servants) choose it rather, for he that is called of the Lord,

6/ "'...being a servant, is the freeman of the Lord; and, in like manner, he that is called, being free, is the servant of Christ,—Ye are bought with a price; BE NOT THEREFORE THE SERVANTS OF MEN.'

The apostle, indeed, had just before recommended to his disciples to abide in

7/ "...the same calling, wherein they were called, and, 'being servants, not to care for it:' That is, not to grieve on account of their temporal state; (for if, instead of thus enjoining submission, he had absolutely declared the iniquity of SLAVERY, tho' established and

8/ "...authorized by the laws of temporal governments, he would have occasioned more tumult than reformation among the multitude of SLAVES, more striving for temporal than spiritual happiness); yet it plainly appears, by the insinuations, which immediately follow, that he

9/ "...thought it derogatory to the honour of christianity, that men, who are bought, with the inestimable price of Christ's blood, should be esteemed servants; that is, the Slaves, and private property of other men; and had christianity been established by temporal authority,

10/ "...in those countries where Paul preached, as it is at present in these kingdoms, we need not doubt but that he would have urged, nay, compelled the masters, as he did Philemon, by the most pressing arguments, to treat their quondam slaves, NOT NOW AS SERVANTS, BUT ABOVE

11/11 "...SERVANTS—AS BRETHREN BELOVED." (1776)

(Oh, and Sharp, as well as others, did in fact effectively deal with the Old Testament quite well, as he indicates at the beginning, without denying the inspiration and authority of the Scripture.)

12/11

Bonus: "May God give us grace to repent of this abominable 'NATIONAL SIN,' before it is too late!" ~Granville Sharp